Commissioned Report 252 - Scottish Natural Heritage

There is another roost further west on the pier at NH67332 68857 (D on Fig 17). This
roost is a secondary roost, predominantly used by Eurasian oystercatcher (order 3-4
flocks) and northern lapwing (order 3-4 flocks) from Dalmore Bay.
Dalmore
The main roost is found on the saltmarsh below the distillery from NH66442 68432 to
NH66416 68276 (site C on Fig 18). This area has become increasingly prone to
disturbance. Many dog walkers, walking down from the distillery towards the pier, let
their dogs run out over the saltmarsh, where they disturb the roosting birds. This has
led to a decline in the number of birds using this site, particularly common redshank
and dunlin, where numbers have dropped by over 50%. The numbers in Table 28
reflect which waders currently attempt to roost at the site. Disturbance usually
results in birds moving to Balintraid Pier and Invergordon (roosts D and A on Fig 17)
or to the saltmarsh south of the pier (roost B on Fig 18).
Table 28. Changes in wildfowl and wader numbers at Dalmore.
WN T. MA OC L. KN DN BA CU RK TT
Pre 1995 4 4 3 4 2 1 5 1 4 5 2
Post 1994 4 2 3 4 4 1 3 1 4 4 1
Figure 18. Roosts at Dalmore and Alness Point
A
Based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of the controller of HMSO
© Crown copyright (1996) Licence no. 100017908
This latter roost is located on the saltmarsh between the pier at Alness point
stretching from NH66042 68042 to NH66199 68130, with a core round NH66132
68077 (B on Fig 18).
Alness Point
The roost here is situated on the north end of a long gravel spit from NH65721 67691
to the tip of the point at NH65849 67837 (around A on Fig 18).
Table 29. Changes in wader numbers at Alness Point.
OC RP DN BA RK TT
Pre 1995 5 2 5 4 4 1
Post 1994 5 2 0 0 1 1
B
The development of the Deephaven business park between August 2000 and
December 2003 has improved access to this area, although the lagoon does
discourage all but the most adventurous dog walkers to go out along the spit at high
tide. Numbers have, however, dropped at this site and many of the Eurasian
oystercatcher now roost just inland of the spit on the edge of the lagoon.
22
C